Frederic richard



No. 6l4,982. Patented um 29, 1898. F. RICHARD.

AUTOMATIC TIME ELECTRIC CIRCUIT SWITCH.

(Application filed Oct. 30, 1897.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-$heet l.

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No. 614,982. Patented Nov. 29, I898. F. RICHARD.

AUTOMATIC TIME ELECTRIC CIRCUIT SWITCH.

(Application filed Oct. 30. 1897.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-$heet 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERIC RICHARD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGN OR TO THE UNIVERSAL ELECTRIC CLOCK COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC TIME ELECTRIC-CIRCUIT SWITCH.

srE'orFIoAT'roN forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,982, dated November 29, 1898.

Application filed October 30, 1 8 9 '7.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERIC RICHARD, a citizen of the Republic of Switzerland, and a resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Automatic Time Electric-Circuit Switch or Circuit-Changer, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide means for automatically at any given time opening one electric circuit and simultaneously closing another electric circuit when for the sake of economy, safety, or any other cause such change of circuit may be desirable. For instance, in the case of electric lighting it may be desirable at certain hours to employ a certain electromotive force in volts or a certain strength of current in amperes than at other hours when greater or less electromotive force or a stronger or weaker current would better answer the purpose. meters are employed, my device provides for automatically opening the circuit from one meter and simultaneously closing that from another meter.

Referring to the drawings which form a part of this specification, Figure l is a front view of the clock fastened to the frame G with its rotary dial. Fig. 2 is a front View of the intermediate mechanism. Fig. 3 is a side View of the intermediate mechanism, looking from the left. Fig. l is a diagram showing the directions of the electric current. Fig. 5 is a front View of the gears of the rotary dial. Fig. 6 is a View in perspective of the springs. Fig. 7 is a detail of Fig. 2.

The same letters and numerals refer to the same parts throughout the drawings.

The clock, Fig. 1, fastened upon the frame G has a stationary dial A, rotary dial B, hourhand E, and a minute-hand F. The rotary dial and hour-hand rotate once in twenty-four hours and may be rigidly attached to each other. The minute -hand rotates once an hour. The rotations are all from left to right.

The stationary dial is divided into twentyfour hours from left to right, (twelve hours a. m. and twelve hours p. m.) The rotary dial is divided into twenty-four hours from right to left (twelve hours p. m. and twelve hours a. m.) to enable one readily to tell the hen Serial No. 656.956. (N0 model-l time by this dial and to adjust the movable pins D and D. Opposite the twenty-four hours of the rotary dial are twenty-four holes C C C adapted to receive and hold the movable pins D D.

An examination of the two dials in Fig. 1 will show that the correct timei. 6., the time indicated by the stationary dialmay be easily read on the rotary dial. To illustrate, the correct time shown on the stationary dial is practically 12 P. M. This hour (twelve p. m.) appears on the rotary dial at the point L, which point is a fixed point on the fixed radius extending from the center of the stationary dial to the 5 P. M. of the stationary dial. Assuming the two dials to be thus relatively arranged, it will be seen that after the clock has been running one hour the correct time (one a. m.) will be indicated on the rotary dial at the fixed point L, the rotation of the rotary dial having brought the 1 A. M. to the point L. After two hours the 2 A. M. of the rotary dial will have reached the point L, (K70. After twenty-four hours that is, after one complete rotation of the rotary dialthe 12 P. M. of the rotary dial will have been carried around to the point L. This result is obtained by arranging the numbers on the rotary dial in the direction opposite to that of its rotation. As arranged in this instance the rotary dial always indicates the correct time at the point L. As the holes C C C represent hours, we know at just whathour of actual time any hole will reach the point L. If we put a movable pin into any hole, that pin will reach the point L at the hour indicated by the number of the hole or of the hour opposite the hole.

The clock may be run by an ordinary train of gears, supplemented by gears, Fig. 5, adapted to produce a revolution or rotation of the hour-hand and rotary dial once in twenty-four hours rather than once in twelve hours.

Figs. 2 and 3 are front and side views, respectively, of certain mechanism adapted to be set in operation by means of the movable.

pin D coming into contact with the tooth tof the toothed wheel T. For this purpose the movable pin D is made to project through and beyond the rotary dial, and the toothed wheel 2 ei tee T is placed behind and at one side of the rotary dial in such position as to rotate in a plane parallel to the plane of the rotary dial and at such a distance therefrom that the movable pin D in its rotation will come into contact with and engage the tooth t near its extremity, as shown in Fig. 2, and cause the toothed wheel to rotate during such engagement. The spring Y, fastened by the screw Z to the plate G is employed to hasten or accelerate the rotary motion of the toothed wheel T. The rotation of the toothed wheel caused by the engagement of the movable pin D with the tooth t, as explained, carries the tooth 2f around until the end of tooth 25 passes the angle of the spring Y, compressing said spring, and then the spring reacts, forcing the tooth 25 down the line or face i thus assisting to rotate the wheel and, assuming its normal position, checking the progress of tooth i. Firmly attached to the toothed wheel T and revolving with it upon the common axis IV is a wheel having the rubber hub S and the silver arms Q Q Q Q There are half as many arms in this wheel as there are teeth in the toothed wheel. These arms may be beveled or V-shaped to facilitate the entering of the arms between the ends of the springs.

The springs N N N N are fixed by screws 0 O O O to the rubber plate X, and this plate is fixed by the screws X X to the plate G. Each spring has fixed to its outer end a small piece of silver P P, Fig. 6. The springs are in pairs, N and N forming one pair and N and N forming another pair. They are fixed in such a position relatively to the toothed wheel T that when said toothed wheel rotates the silver arms Q Q Q Q will be carried successively between the ends of one pair of springs and then between the ends of the second pair of springs. The ends of the two springs forming a pair are so close together that the arm Q will come into contact with both ends, while the ends are prevented from coming into contact with each other by an insulated post p, fixed to one of them, as shown in Fig. The distance between the ends of the two sets of springs is equal to one-half the distance between the middle points of the outer ends of the arms Q Q, and the outer end of the arm Q should be small enough to prevent its coming at the same time into contact with both sets of springs, while the ends of the springs should be small enough to prevent their coming at the same time into contact with two silver arms of the wheel. By this arrangement when the arm Q is in contact with the springs N N the arm Q will have passed through and beyond its contact with the springs N N, and when at the next impulse forward of the ,toothed wheel the arm Q leaves its contact with springs N N and passes into contact with the springs N N then the arm Q will be ready and in a position to enter into contact with the springs N N &c.

In Fig. 7 is shown the proper relation of the spring Y to the wheel T. The short face of the tooth t is the extension of the radius of T. The angle t should be about fortyfive degrees, and the angle 4: 2 should be not less than one hundred and twenty degrees.

The operation of my invention is as follows: In Fig. 2 are shown two electric circuits-the closed circuit M N Q N M, which we may call circuit No. 1, and the open circuit M N N M, which we may call circuit No. 2. Suppose the clock to be going and the movable pin D to have reached the tooth t. The wheel T now begins to rotate and the spring Y is depressed until the end of the tooth t passes the angle t Then the spring reacts, causing the wheel T to rotate more rapidly until the spring assumes again its normal form and position. By this rotation the arm Q is carried out of contact with the springs N N thus opening the first circuit, and into contact with the springs N N, thus closing the second circuit. The action of the spring Y hastens the change from one circuit to the other, thus preventing sparks and burning. When the arm Q is thus brought into contact with and closes circuit No. 2, the arm Q will have been carried forward to a position ready on the next impulse to enter into contact with and close circuit No. 1, while the arm Q at the next impulse will be carried out of contact with and open circuit No. 2. Thus at every impulse of the wheel T one circuit is closed and sin1u1taneously another circuit is opened, and this may be accomplished at any time by placing the movable pins into the holes of the rotary dial corresponding to the hours at which it is desired to make the change of circuit.

In assembling the parts the axis of the wheel T may be fixed to the plate G and this plate G2 may be fixed to the frame G of the clock, and the springs N N N" N 3 are fastened by screws 0 O O O to the rubber plate X, and this plate X is fastened to the plate G2 by screws X X The spring Y is fastened to the plate G For purposes of conductivity, insulation, durability, &c., I prefer the following materials: hard rubber for plate X, post 1), Fig. 3, hub S; steel for toothed wheel T, (three sixtyfourths of an inch,) axis W, pins D D, and spring Y; pure silver (not easily oxidized) for the arms Q Q and pieces P P, Fig. '6; phosphor-bronze for the springs N N N N The teeth of the toothed wheel should be slightly rounded at the point. The binding-posts may be of ordinary form and properly insulated when necessary.

In Fig. i I show how a current may be switched off or diverted from its course through one meter and directed through another meter and how a current may be adapted to run the electric clock in addition to doing the work on hand-1 6., electric lighting. In this diagram Fig. 4:, a represents the powerhouse,while 1) represents a building furnished oil toss s with electric lamps d,with two meters '6 and e, and with an electric clock, as shown in Fig. 1, the magnets J J alone being shown in Fig. 4:. When the circuit M M is closed, the current follows the line 10, as indicated, starting from the power-house a and running thence to the building I), through the lamps d, through the meter 6 to bindingpost 1, to spring N, (see Fig. 2,) through arm of switch to spring N, to binding-postfZ, and thence to the powerhouse, as indicated by line 10. WVhen by the action of the switch, as before explained, the circuit M M is opened and the circuit M M is closed, the current starts from the powerhouse Ct, as before, and follows the line 10 to a point between the lamps d and meter 6 and is at that point diverted into the path indicated by line 11, running through meter 6, and thence to binding-post 3, to spring N (see Fig. 2,) arm of switch, spring N bindingpost 4, and back along line 11 to line 10 and to the power-house a, as indicated. To furnish power for the lamps and also for the clock from the same wire or generator, part of the current may be diverted from the line 10 at a point between 01 and e and carried thence by line'll and line 12 to binding-post 5, (see Fig. 1,) resistance-coil H to resistance-coil H, binding-post 8, spring L, binding-post 7, magnets J J, binding-post 6, and thence by line 12 to line 10 to the POWGlulOllSG a, asindicated. For convenience all the wire conductors may run from the binding-posts 1 2 3 4 5 6 through apertures to the back of the base G, and thence up back of the base and then back through other apertures in the upper part of the base to the binding posts or screws 0 O 0 0 By regulating the number of arms Q Q Q Q and by adjusting the arrangement of springs N N, &c., the revolving dial may operate in the manner explained to open one circuit or any number of circuits and at the same time close one circuit or any number of circuits, or at one time a circuit may be opened and at another time the same circuit may be closed.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is.

I. The combination of a clock, supported by the frame, G, having a stationary dial, A, divided into twenty-four hours (twelve hours a. m. and twelve hours p. m.) from left to right; a rotary dial B, divided into twentyfour hours (twelve hours p. m. and twelve hours a. m.) from right to left, rotating once in twenty-four hours, and having the holes, C, C, 0 C the hour-hand, E, rotating once in twenty-four hours; and minute-hand, F, rotating once every hour; the rotations all being from left to right; the clock being run by an ordinary train of gears supplemented by gears adapted to produce the revolution in twenty-four hours; with the movable pins, D, D; the toothed wheel, T, with its axis,

XV, fixed to the plate, G which plate is fixed to the frame of the clock, G; the wheel with the rubber hub, S, and the silver arms, Q, Q, Q Q fixed to the toothed wheel, T, and re volving with it about the axis, W' the spring, Y, fastened by the screw, Z, to the plate, G the phosphor-bronze springs, N, N, N N fastened to the rubber plate, X, by screws, 0, 0, O 0 which plate is fastened to the plate G by screws, X, X, the springs having silver pieces P, P, fastened to their ends, and having the insulated projection 19, the binding-posts 1, 2, 3, 4, and the conductors, M, M, M M all adapted and arranged to open one electric circuit, and close another electric circuit; substantially as described.

2. The combination of a clock having a stationary dial divided into twenty-four hours from left to right; a rotary dial divided into twenty-four hours from right to left with corresponding holes; an hour-hand revolving once in twenty-four hours and a minute-hand revolving once an hour, all revolutions being from left to right; the clock being furnished with gears adapted to produce such revolutions; with movable pins to fit into and extend through and beyond the holes in the movable dial; a toothed wheel; a wheel furnished with arms; a spring adapted to assist in the rotation of the toothed wheel; two pairs of springs, the springs of each pair being separated at their outer ends and prevented by an insulated projection, fixed to one of them, from coming into contact with each other; all arranged, so that, when the clock is going, the pins projecting through the holes of the rotary dial will, as the dial revolves, one after another come into contact with and engage a tooth of the toothed Wheel, start the wheel rotating, and, the rotation being assisted by the spring, carry one arm between and into contact with the ends of one set of springs, and carry another arm from between and out of contact with the other set of springs, thus closing one electric circuit,

and simultaneously opening another electric FREDERIG RICHARD.

Witnesses:

RALPH W. Fosrnn, FLORENCE J. FALL. 

